There are two incredibly difficult players to gauge because of previous off-field issues, the game's most hated player possibly changing teams and one of the sport's marquee franchises now has the money to match its status.

The Hamilton saga

Drug and alcohol addiction, with two relapses the public knows about; injuries, tobacco, caffeine, outbursts toward coaches; and yet, elite-level production. This is what you get with Hamilton, a free agent for the first time at 31 years old.

No team outside of the Texas Rangers understands what it takes to have Hamilton under contract, and that is why his free agency is littered with questions and concerns. He is clearly an extraordinary talent, maybe the most impressive athlete in Major League Baseball. But because of the risks involved in signing Hamilton, the amount of money and years he will be offered will be limited.

Once the serious bidding begins — the Rangers say they won't be the team to start it — no story will be more followed or more interesting. (UPDATE: A Twitter report Sunday night by Baseball Prospectus said Hamilton is seeking seven years and $175 million.)

Handling A-Rod

Rodriguez used to be the kind of player Hamilton is. He has been and will continue to be paid well through 2017 when he will be 42 years old. Rodriguez is already not worth the money he is making, and this past postseason showed that his name and paycheck aren't enough to keep him from being benched.

In the midst of Rodriguez's postseason humiliation, rumors sprouted that the New York Yankees would try to move him. That seems almost impossible since A-Rod is owed a guaranteed $114 million and his production is plummeting. Plus, general manager Brian Cashman has said he plans to have Rodriguez in his lineup next season.

That could be a total lie. Cashman could be on the phone right now telling teams he will be willing to swallow $90 million of Rodriguez's salary. This winter will tell us for sure.

Are Greinke's options limited?

Like Hamilton, it's a question worth exploring. And like Hamilton, it's because of off-field issues. Greinke nearly quit baseball before the 2006 season because of depression and social anxiety. In 2010 he admittedly quit on the Kansas City Royals because he didn't believe the organization was trying to win.

All of that could cap the number of suitors Greinke has in free agency. Big-market teams are wary of him and teams not in immediate championship contention have to wonder if he'd quit on them.

On top of that, teams must determine if they are willing to pay Greinke ace-type money even though his numbers show he isn't such. And yet, he is the closest thing the market has to one. That alone might be trump all the other concerns.

The new player

It would seem stupid to say the Dodgers are a new offseason player, but considering how previous ownership handcuffed the front office when working out trades and going after free agents, this a new day.

In the first offseason since Guggenheim Baseball Management took ownership, the Dodgers might be willing to spend heavily on free agents like Greinke.

When the Dodgers took on the majority of the Boston Red Sox payroll in an August trade, soon-to-be free agents perked up, knowing a new spender was in play.

It's possible the Dodgers won't go crazy with the checkbook, but it's possible that they will. They've already signed closer Brandon League to a three-year deal for $22.5 million.

While they've attempted to distance themselves from Cabrera after his 50-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, they could use his bat on a short-term deal — especially if they don't match the offer for Pagan, which could be in the range of $10 million per year. Cabrera's situation on its own requires attention.

The Giants have been linked to Hamilton, but with a payroll likely to top the almost $118 million they started with in 2012, such a signing seems unlikely under GM Brian Sabean.

How instantly will we get more replay?

Commissioner Bud Selig has wrongly said there isn't a strong push for more video review in baseball, but he might change his tune after what happened during the 2012 postseason. Blown calls have never been so exposed, and in turn they've never been more prevalent.

It seems likely Selig will allow more replay to determine fair and foul balls and disputed catches. Anything further is open for debate.